# Albert Zahn

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**Albert Zahn** was a self-taught sculptor from the Prussian province of [Pomerania](/source/Pomerania), who lived and worked in [Door County](/source/Door_County,_Wisconsin), Wisconsin, United States for most of his life.[1] He is known primarily for his painted wood carvings of birds. He is also known for his depictions of angels,[2] and for the creation of the Albert Zahn House, which he built with his wife Louise Zahn and adorned with hundreds of his carvings.[3] Albert carved most of his sculptures from cedar, and then instructed Louise, who painted them.[2] Some of his other notable subjects include maritime workers, Prussian soldiers, dogs, and deer.[2]

## Life and work

Born in 1864 in Pomerania (now part of Germany), Albert Zahn immigrated to the United States as a child, settling in Door County, Wisconsin, where he worked as a farmer.[1] He began his career in the arts after retirement. He was raised Lutheran,[4] and his piety informed most of his sculpture.[5] His relatives have attested to Zahn's familiarity with the Bible, and it is possible to trace significance of almost all of his subjects to Old Testament psalms.[2] Birds held particular significance as a subject for Zahn, earning him the nickname "Birdman of Baileys Harbor".

In 1924 Albert and Louise Zahn built a house in [Baileys Harbor](/source/Baileys_Harbor,_Wisconsin), Wisconsin, which he named Birds Park. Now also known as the [Albert Zahn House](/source/Albert_Zahn_House), the property was added to the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 2000. Zahn decorated the house and property extensively with his sculptures. Most of these pieces have now been dispersed into private collections.

Zahn continued to build a large body of work until 1950, when his wife died.[2] He died three years later, in 1953.

Inspired by his work, Albert Zahn's grandson and great-grandson, Ed Zahn and Randy Zahn, both became woodcarvers and often carved the same subjects as Zahn.[1]

## Permanent collections

- [John Michael Kohler Arts Center](/source/John_Michael_Kohler_Arts_Center), Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- [Smithsonian Institution](/source/Smithsonian_Institution), Washington, D.C.
- [Milwaukee Art Museum](/source/Milwaukee_Art_Museum), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- [Art Institute of Chicago](/source/Art_Institute_of_Chicago), Chicago, Illinois
- Intuit,[6] Chicago, Illinois
- Carl Hammer Gallery,[7] Chicago, Illinois

## References

1. ["Zahn family folk art carvings on exhibit at art school"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1801890046). *Green Bay Press Gazette*. July 6, 2016.

1. Umberger, Leslie (2003). *Albert Zahn: I'll Fly Away*. John Michael Kohler Arts Center of the Sheboygan Arts Foundation, Inc.

1. ["Art Notes"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/437586051). *The Post - Crescent*. July 6, 2008.

1. Bishop, Robert (1974). *American Folk Sculpture*. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc.

1. Ricco, Roger & Maresca, Frank (1988). *American Primitive: Discoveries in Folk Sculpture*. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 202.

1. [Intuit](https://www.art.org/)

1. [Carl Hammer Gallery](http://www.carlhammergallery.com/artists/albert-zahn)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Albert Zahn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Zahn) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Zahn?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.